Animation Student's

Guide to Animation Desks

compiled by

David Nethery
 Student's Guide to Animation Desks
compiled by David Nethery

For the traditional animator having a solid , functional animation desk is a must . The desk
should be adjustable in height & angle , and should have a hole cut in the top to fit a standard
size animation disc. A back-light unit is attached under the desk which can be turned on and
off with a switch on the table within easy reach of the animator or a footswitch which can turn
the back light on and off as needed. Storage space for paper and other supplies is important too,
so plan to have at least a small side work table , but preferably shelves ("scene stockers") placed
to one or both sides of your animation tablet and/or wall-mounted shelving over top of the desk.
Various types of side-tables, tabourets, and shelving from Art Supply stores can be adapted
for use as scene stockers. Stacked up "milk crates"can also be used as inexpensive scene
stockers.

The following photos will give you some ideas of how animation desks can range from the very
elaborate, heavy studio desks to light-weight portable table-top desks. The emphasis on the
smaller, light-weight tables which are easier to set up and transport. I have included plans
at the end for Build-It-Yourself portable animation desks.

About Animation Discs

Traditional animation discs often had one or two sets of ruled, sliding peg bars because at one
time it was customary for animators to figure out their own camera pan moves and it was
necessary to have the sliding peg bars on the discs to do so. As almost all scene planning
and camera movement is now done in the computer with digital compositing software it is not
necessary to use the heavier metal or black plastic discs with the sliding peg bars. Many
animators much prefer to use a simpler, one-piece white plexiglass disc with a taped-down
thin metal peg bar . These plexiglass discs turn easily in the hole and are even light-weight
enough to hold on one's lap to animate using ambient light to see through a few layers of paper.
Richard Williams is an advocate of the plexiglass animation disc in his book 'The Animator's
Survival Kit' and at one point relates how he animated scenes from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"
while sitting in a hotel room in Wales with a plexiglass animation disc propped up on his knees.
(pg. 82 - 83)

Traditional metal and wooden discs with sliding peg bars

Translucent Plexiglass (aka "Perspex")

disc with inset plastic peg bar .
The plastic bars are ok, but much better
to have a thin metal peg bar because the
metal pegs hold the paper in
better registration and the tape down
bars can be easily repositioned
Popular plastic 16 Field disc with sliding peg bars
(actual pegs are metal), distributed by Lightfoot
Animation (they also sell
a 12 Field version of this disc) Lightfood Animation Ltd. portable table-top
Animation Desk with plexiglass disc

Richard Williams is shown here animating on an over-sized Plexiglass animation disc.

Most Plexiglass animation discs are around 18.5" in diameter, allowing one to work on standard sized
12 Field and 16 Field animation paper, but the disc Richard Williams is using here will take larger
24 Field paper if necessary (or double-wide 12 field pan paper). 24 Field paper is rarely used, so
for almost all normal work 12 or 16 Field paper is used. (Many people even use smaller "10 Field" paper
which is standard 8.5" x 11" letter sized paper which has been punched with Acme peg holes . This
smaller paper has the advantage of being somewhat less expensive than 12 Field paper and it will run
through standard office scanners which are much less expensive than large format 11" x 17" scanners)
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Most table-top portable animation desks from Lightfoot Ltd., Cartoon Supplies and Colin Johnson
Animation Desks are very similar in construction . Pictured below are some of the currently
available models

Colin Johnson Animation Desk Lightfoot new style portable animation table

Alternative light box design from Cartoon Supplies

Another portable animation table,

Colin Johnson portable animation table knocks down
shown from front and back without
flat for storage.
disc.

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Each of these portable table-top models of animation desk have the advantage of being portable and easy to
set up and to take down. As you can see most of the designs are quite simple and if you are at all handy with tools
you could make one for yourself and save some money. The desks built by Colin Johnson of Vancouver , BC ar e
quite a bit less expensive than similar models that ar e on the market , and Mr. Johnson's come with the
plexiglass animation disk and a back-light unit included . Some of the others do not necessarily include the
back-light unit in the main price and you will usually have to pay extra for the disc as well . But again, if
you have a few tools you could make one for yourself. In the following pages I've included a couple of
different examples of plans for a Do-It-Yourself-Portable-Animation-Desk.

Briefcase Animation Table

by Cartoon Carpentry

• 24" X 30" X 4" If you custom-make a table you may choose

•
•
14 Adjustable positions
Integrated Handle to replace the wooden table supports with
• Integrated Backlight modern cabinetry hardware as seen
in the table Borge Ring is using on page 3
• Plexiglass disk included
• Also accepts 12/16 field disks.
which may be purchased separately (detail above) or in the Briefcase
from Central Tool
• Natural Birch finish Animation Table design formerly made
by Cartoon Carpentry shown on the left.
f·· These are easy to adjust and supply good
support to the table top. However , the
wooden slat system is easy to make and
provides three or four different angle
adjustments to the table.

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While the more portable table-top models of animation desk have some advantages, one drawback they have
is that you can only adjust the angle but not the height of the table. You're stuc k with whatever height of
table or bench the animation table is resting on top of . For the ultimate in ergonomic c omfort , to be able to
make fine adjustments in both angle and height a free-standing drafting table is ideal. You c an buy a
wooden drafting table like this and cut the hole yourself if you have the correct tools to make a totally
smooth, perfectly round hole, 16 1/2" in diameter , or hire a local carpenter to cut the hole for you.

This animator is shown

working on a larger size
drafting table. Notice
how the larger size allows
plenty of room around
the disc area to pin up
model sheets,notes,
ex-sheet, etc.

A 4ft. folding table to

the right side of the
animation desk and a
low scene stacker/
tabouret partially seen
in the lower left fore­
ground provide space
for the animator to
organize his work .

In your home studio

set up you can use
any kind of low side table
with some stacked up
"milk crates" as improv­
vised scene stockers.

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 Here's another fine example
of an animator's work space
for you to consider as you build
your own. Traditional animation
disc in a table-top desk on the right
and over to the left of the L-shaped
table is a Wacom tablet and computer
monitor. Just a matter of swiveling
in your chair and you're transported
from classic 20th century technology
to the cutting edge. The Best of
Both Worlds.

You can also just make out the

scanner in the lower left corner near
the Wacom tablet.

Note the economical use of office

letter trays as scene stockers to hold
animation drawings. Low-profile, and
practical . Plenty of room on the walls
for inspirational artwork !

(by the way, this snazzy work space belongs to Director/Animator Ward Jenkins)

This beautiful , custom-made

desk belongs to animator
Ronnie Williford. Ronnie made
this desk himself to maximize
his work area in the least amount
of space necessary.
The desk comes out from the
wall only about 24" inches
and utilizes good shelf space
up above , with paper, pencil
sharpener, peg strips and other
necessities easily accessible.

Note that Ronnie's animation

disc is properly off-set to one
side so he has room on his
right for an Ex-sheet or other
notes

Although the purpose of this

little pamphlet is to show you
how you can get set up to
animate at home with ready-made,
inexpensive equipment , I hope

that some of you who read this will be inspired to custom-craft your own animation desks based on designs like
these that are both functional and beautiful.

On the next few pages I will give you some simple plans for building your own portable animation
table.

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 Photos of the
Do-It-Yourself-Portable-Animation-Table

(refer to the other photos of portable tables I've shown earlier in this booklet and
to the plans for the table designed by Jim Maccauley. Those are your basic dimensions.)

1.) Carefully measure lines for hole to be cut 2.) use tools (router and or jigsaw) to carefully cut
16 3/8" "Measure twice, cut once" . out a perfect circle 16 3/8" .. After the hole is cut
you can sand down the inside edges to make
it even smoother so your disc will turn smoothly.

3. Finished table-top with hole cut out for disc. 4.) Attach legs. (see Maccauley Plans for basic layout;
The ones pictured here are slightly different)

5.) If you've come this far ok then you know what 6) Fluorescent light unit you'll find at Home Depot
you are doing . If this is becoming frustrating you or some such place. Use metal strapping to
may want to contact Colin Johnson (see contact attach it to backside of the table.
page at the end)
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 Sources for Animation Desks and Accessories

Colin John son An imation Desks - https://www.animationdesks.com/

These desks are well-made and quite a bit less expensive than similar portable desks
sold by other companies. As of 08/19/2019 Mr. Johnson is selling these desks
for $270.00 + $60.00 shipping . Mr. Johnson's desks include a fluorescent backlight unit and
the plexiglass animation disc with peg bar. He sells the plexiglass animation disc with peg bar
alone for $85.00 + $18.00 shipping. These are usually in stock , but email or call him about
availability . (contact info on his website: http://www.animationdesks.com/ )

Lightfoot Ltd. Animation Supplies - https://www.lightfootltd.com/ Lightfoot has their own design
of portable, table-top animation desk . They also sell good quality animation paper and other
animation supplies.
.
http://www.lightfootltd.com/catalog/lightboxestables/pro-light-boxes-tables

ChromaColour U.K. - Sells a variety of traditional animation supplies.

They sell a portable animation table which is also very well­
made , although more expensive than the similar table from Colin Johnson. See their
website for details: https://www.chromacolour.co.uk

Draftin g Steals - This company sells various models of drafting tables , including the
wooden "Pavillion" model of wooden drafting table that is suitable for cutting a hole in
for an animation disc. https://www.draftingsteals.com/artist-tables.html

https://www.draftingsteals.com/10115.html

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